As the peace negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan prepares to meet the Taliban delegation in Doha, at home, Afghan women are still concerned about possible restrictions on their basic rights as part of a potential peace agreement with the militant group. 

Afghan women said they have fought massively for their rights post-Taliban democracy, but now they have grave concerns about a possible return of "the dark era" of the Taliban.

Elaha, 21, is an Afghan girl who is working in three fields including handicrafts, tailoring and painting. She says that a lack of a powerful role for women in the peace team has increased major concerns among women in Afghanistan.

“We are worried that after the Taliban enters the Afghan government with the same anti-feminist ideas. We will not have to underline all our achievements again," she said.

“The Taliban's approach towards women's liberties is not positive---freedoms such as freedom of speech. As they talked before and what we expect---they (Taliban) have not talked about the rights and status of women,” said Giti, an Afghan female journalist.

“We are sure if the talks end in support of the Taliban, we will lose all resources that we have today,” said Rukhsar, an Afghan cyclist.

This comes as Afghanistan’s 21-member negotiating team led by Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai left Kabul for Doha on Friday afternoon to attend the much-awaited intra-Afghan negotiations that are expected to end the four decades of war in Afghanistan.

The members of the negotiating team called Saturday a historic day for the country and said they remain hopeful for the results of the talks. 

Fawzia Koofi, a woman member of the negotiating team, said she thinks the process will be complicated but added that she remains hopeful. “As far as the Afghan war is multidimensional, all dimensions of this war should be considered in the talks,” Koofi said. 

Meanwhile, world leaders in an open letter called for Afghan women’s meaningful participation in the peace process. 

"We call upon all relevant national, regional and international actors to pursue a peaceful, stable Afghanistan by ensuring

women’s full participation in the peace process. After 40 years of conflict, there may finally be an opportunity for peace. The

international community has an obligation to assist with ensuring that the peace forged is durable and this opportunity is not

squandered," the letter reads.